Monday, September 5, 2011

What money can't buy

I'm home trying to work on my computer, but it's hard because there's all this drilling and banging and hacking going on in our toilets at the moment - the sewage pipes are leaking, and it took the owners more than 30 years to decided to change it. Apart from the noise, I also can't help but overhear my maid's conversation with this guy working on our pipes. It's hilarious!

Here's this guy who literally takes shit for a living and on top of that he's got to listen to my part time maid's questions about how old he is, how many kids he's got, how she thinks this is a tough occupation to have, and how she thinks it may not pay as well (very direct, but that's just how she is), which will affect his retirement, etc etc etc... and she keeps going on like a train. Intermittently she would come to me and talk to me, and then she'd go back to the toilets and watch and ask what he's putting on the pipes now, what sort of glue, why he's doing this and that. It's just fun to watch. You can tell he was trying to be polite at first, answering her questions, trying to accommodate her by delving in conversation with her, but as she starts criticizing, telling him how he should do his work, his responses start getting shorter and sharper. Lol. I think she must be bored, because she can't start doing what she needs to do until they're done, and sitting in the living room to read the papers doesn't sit well with her. She HAS to engage in conversation, even if it's with an unwilling party, and take on her self imposed role as supervisor. Lol. Really cute.

This though reminds me of something that happened not too long ago, which helped me reflect a little deeper into my own priorities. I was lunching with a group of lawyers recently, and it turns out one of them, was a prodigy. This individual managed to make it to equity partner of a firm in a short span of 4 years, and takes home a whopping 5 figure monthly salary excluding bonuses. Something in my stomach started to knot. I didn't know why at first, but I think it could be more jealousy or enviousness I was feeling - at how some ppl just have it easier than others in life. But thank goodness for family members that keep you grounded to what's more important to you, and remind you of your real values and of what you already have. I was told by different people in my family through their different life struggles, and experiences, that life, health, love, and enough to keep me comfortable is all that's really needed. And Min, my sister pointed out very importantly, that had I changed the course of my life in any way, I may have never met Julien. Now THAT strikes a cord deeper than fame, recognition, and financial success. And that's what no amount of money in the world can buy me.

I have everything I need in this world already - a wonderful husband who loves me, a great loving family with great advice, a good job that pays me to do what I like to do, wonderful colleagues who always surround me in an environment of encouragement.

So although this chap changes sewage pipes for a living, it's good enough to see his child through school, and be able to put three meals on the table for his family, and if that makes him happy and gives him a sense of accomplishment, then I'd say he has succeeded in life!

How can they say my life is not a success? Have I not for more than sixty years got enough to eat and escaped being eaten? - Logan P. Smith

The man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure. - B. C. Forbes

There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way. - Christopher Morley